Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-12-24
(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM and WKRN Radio. Your hometown news broadcasting from the Debbie Matthews Nashville Realty Newsroom in Columbia, Tennessee. I'm your host, Tom Price. Today is Friday, July 12th, and we start with local news. After lengthy and heated discussions, Murray Canada's Building Committee voted by a four to three margin to forward a request for qualifications or RFQ from Klein's Sweeney Associates over Hewlett Spencer as an owner advocate for upcoming projects during their July meeting. Commissioners Kathy Grody, Ray Jeter, Gabe Howard and Brandon Nutt voted in favor with Connie Green, Karl McMullen, and Kevin Markham voting against. The resolution was briefly discussed in the Budget Committee and has now been passed onto the full commission. A number of commissioners spoke in favor of Hewlett Spencer, which has managed a number of local projects, including Battle Creek High School, the Murray County Judicial Center, and the Murray County Archives. Klein's Sweeney has done projects for Murray County Public Schools previously, but not for Murray County Government. After the vote, Commission Chairman Eric Pravitti asked if the Budget Committee or full commission could substitute Hewlett Spencer when the item comes up later. County Attorney Daniel Murphy advised that the commission could make a different nomination when the time came. Commissioner Gwen Evans cited increased costs of Battle Creek High School and supporting the request, saying, "When you have somebody who gets paid based "on how much the building costs, "I can predict what's going to happen. "If you are building a $120 million building, "we need someone looking after our interests. "I think the savings far outweigh the initial cost," he said. An amendment to advance both RFQs from Klein's Sweeney and Hewlett Spencer for a decision by the full commission failed after it was noted that it was unusual to send dueling proposals. Commissioner Jeter criticized Hewlett Spencer, asking if the company had solicited bids from general contractors on the judicial center before awarding the project. Chairman Steve Hewlett said the company had not done so. Their proposal says they have an open and competitive bid process. "I do not believe that to be the case. "I believe they hire their general contractor "and that contractor bids out their scope of work," Jeter said. Steve Hewlett called that an inaccurate picture of the company's practices, saying, "The team brings bids in. "We're not just looking for prices, "we're looking for ways to cut the cost. "Bidding the general contractors is a way you get low bids "and low quality," he said. Jeter raised what he called issues with Hewlett Spencer's proposal, saying, "They've not brought change orders to us "after they give us a guaranteed maximum price. "The open and competitive hard bid process. "I don't believe that to be the case. "They are negotiating with their contractor, "their engineers, and architects," he said. Murray County's going to spend a lot of money on building projects in the next five to 10 years. "It's important that we get this decision right "for the people of Murray County," he said. The committee also received updates on construction of the judicial center, ag extension, and county archives. Commissioners were told all asphalt was laid at the judicial center and that carpeting and flooring was nearing completion on the ground level. Millwork on ground floor courtrooms was completed and was beginning on the second floor. Furniture is scheduled to be installed in September and move in is scheduled for the week of October 14th. Commissioners were told. With regards to the ag extension office, the utility roughins are being completed and the building had passed inspection by the fire marshal earlier that day. Sidewalks have been poured and stonework and siding are complete and the move in date is scheduled for October 1st. The county archives has passed a permanent power inspection and about 75% of the exterior brick is complete, commissioners were told. Utilities are being worked on and the rear grading of the building is complete and drywall, mechanical, and plumbing are being worked upon inside. Finance Director Doug Laconan reported that the steering committee for the new county's administrative complex had met in early June and had recommended to build at the McDowell Elementary site to place both county government and the Board of Education on the site and to remove the senior citizen center from the project. Hope and dignity are the primary goals for the well outreach, says Chief Executive Officer Shelley Sassen, as the food pantry finds fresh new ways to innovate and feed hungry families. Now, clients at the new the well facility in Mount Pleasant in Murray County can access high quality food options without the rising cost of grocery shopping and expense that is becoming increasingly difficult for many to afford. Enter hydroponic lettuce growing, a method that uses various means of growing produce via a nutrient based water solution. Grants have allowed much expansion for the ministry and the new hydroponic growth system is just one new direction that will yield fresh varieties of lettuce grown entirely at the pantry's new Mount Pleasant location. Finding a sustainable way to provide fresh produce at a reasonable cost has been a big challenge, according to Sassen. We're thankful this enables us to meet our goal, Sassen said, "This allows us to honor our mission "of giving dignity and hope to our clients "by providing access to the very best products "that we can," she said. Describing the choice of offering lettuce as a versatile food, cheap to produce, Sassen said growing greens on site will ensure freshness and abundance under one roof, cutting out transport. The well outreach recently expanded its single Spring Hill location by opening a second location in April in Mount Pleasant located at 700 North Main Street, which is more than twice the size of its original location. The new 16,000 square foot facility houses a large food pantry, coffee shop, consultation rooms, prayer rooms, a children's area and warehouse area for food storage. The response to the new hydroponic option has been huge, Sassen said, with the help of social media. Green Star, Romaine, Butterhead, and summer crisp varieties will make their way into the homes of nearly 1,300 people, according to Sassen. The new greens offer a higher grade of food that people would find with farm-to-table options. The pantry is also offering meat and dairy from nearby local farms, including farm fresh jersey milk from Old Stone Creamery Market produced by Clayburn Jersey and Angus Farm in Spring Hill and beef from 1822 farms in Williamsport. The well used its grant funds to purchase the hydroponic system installed onsite thanks in part to a SIGNA healthcare initiative that seeks to create better communities. Across the globe, SIGNA has given 15 fellowships to nonprofits to launch the community ambassador fellows program, a fellowship forged by choosing a nonprofit partner to better the community. The goal is to complete a project to positively impact the health and vitality of individuals in the communities where we live and work, said SIGNA senior client, account executive Kent Wuflestad, who serves as project leader. Wuflestad and leaders of the well identified hydroponics as an innovative approach to help deliver food produce year-round, and Wuflestad was selected by SIGNA as a 2024 community ambassador fellow to turn the hydroponics dream into reality for the well. Wuflestad was given a three month term to help implement the new project with $20,000 partial funding from SIGNA. The SIGNA grant works alongside Governor Bill Lee's community development block grant program to assist lower income families. In total, $70,000 has been prioritized to help kickstart the environmentally friendly growing method, which will yield 50 pounds of lettuce per week. Hydroponic growing at a food pantry is something brand new that one would have to look far and wide to find, according to Wuflestad. Part of his job is to guide and educate staff and volunteers on the growing and production process. The process begins with seeds being planted in saturated rock wool, or small nutrient-filled porous fertilizing trays, housing buds which are then transported to a large flood tray where they receive proper light and continue growing. Patrons can view the cylindrical growing columns where the lettuce is eventually ready for picking. The hydroponic growing method is free of pesticides and not entirely organic, but eliminates some negative aspects of food processing. It's a refreshing surprise for many clients, said Mount Pleasant site manager Dawson Gorman. Their eyes kind of pop when clients see the new produce, Gorman said, "This is the first time "they've ever seen anything like this here." For now, Sassan says the plan is to keep the efforts focused on producing quality lettuce, but says other foods like tomatoes are not out of the question for the future. Until that time, Sassan says the pantry will continue to offer the best food possible for clients. For more information, visit www.thewelloutreach.org. Murray County broke New Ground Tuesday on a project to expand its broadband services to rural communities, including homes, businesses, and schools. The project was made possible through collaborations between the county, state, Duck River Electric, and United Communications, which were awarded the bid to oversee the installation. The project is part of the larger Project Unite Initiative that seeks to establish universal high-speed internet access. Through the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund, United Communications, along with its parent company, Middle Tennessee Electric, were able to secure $53.4 million in broadband infrastructure grants in 2022. Of the counties which received a share of the project, Murray County was given the highest in the amount of $17 million. The Murray County Commission and United Communications also provided an additional $7.4 million, bringing the total investment to $24.4 million. It became very clear over the past three years that it was imperative for thousands of adults and students to have better communication options in our county. Mayor Sheila Butt said, "Duck River Electric, United Communications, the State of Tennessee, and Murray County have all stepped up to the plate together to make this happen," she said. County Commission Chair Eric Pravitti said that, "While Murray County was fortunate to receive the grant, it could not have been possible without the outpouring of citizen support." The biggest thanks for me is to the citizens of Murray County because Murray County wrote more letters than any other county in the state, requesting that this grant happen, Pravitti said, "And a thanks goes to our financial department for putting together the ability to get those letters done," he said. Chairman Pravitti added that a big surprise announced Tuesday is that the original plan to reach 4,000 residents has now grown to 6,500 residents. The additional 2,500, according to a press release, is for county residents who currently have limited access to broadband providers but do not qualify for grant funding. This allows more people to have service for those people in Murray County. Those with medical needs can use the service to get information to their medical providers via internet, Pravitti said. "Everything so far has been designed, designed, designed, and now it's all about install, install, install," he said. Groundbreaking events usually mean that something big is coming to an area, and this one is no different. Said Duck River Electric, Interim President and CEO Troy Crowell. It is exciting to see Project Unite continue connecting rural places in middle Tennessee to high speed internet service, and Duck River Electric is honored to be part of supporting this effort in Murray County and in other communities that we serve, he said. The project is expected to be completed by mid 2025. We're committed to doing everything we can to help our neighbors get the fast, reliable internet service they need with the value they deserve. Said United Communications Chief Operating Officer in Murray County resident, Josh Lynch. Folks who sign up now can take advantage of the grant to cover installation costs, making it especially beneficial for properties with long driveways and potentially expensive fiber runs. This is a great opportunity to save money not only on installation, but also on monthly service costs while all while enjoying exceptional customer service, he said. Concepts for the proposed Kiedrin Retail Center at 3919 Kiedrin Road were discussed during the most recent Spring Hill Municipal Planning Commission meeting. The property that is zoned C3 and contains approximately 2.55 acres is planned to be a multi-tenant mixed use building with retail and offices on the ground floor and two stories of multi-family residential above. Development director Dara Sander said, adding that there would be tuck under and surface parking. Access to the parking lot will be on both Mayland More and Kiedrin Road's with a proposed multi-use trail also on Kiedrin. Requests from staff included compliance on several items and analysis and feedback on specific items from the commissioners, Sander said, adding that one of those items included its contemporary building design. She said that there were more conventional single family homes to the south of the site and the neighboring Kings Creek subdivision was more traditional with townhomes, cottages, craftsmen style homes and row houses. Commissioner Jonathan Duda also asked about the designs being more contemporary. Jeff Rosiac with Gamble Design Collaborative requested the review and said that the plans were conceptual. Rosiac said that the architectural character of the newer clubhouse at Kings Creek was considered when designing the building, but he was open to guidance from the planning commission. Duda suggested considering an agricultural tie like Kings Creek. The commission also discussed not using urban colors, but instead natural earth tones. Duda said that he also thought he remembered the site being under water during the flooding in 2010 and asked if it was in a flood zone. There was actually a letter of map revision issued for this site when Kings Creek was performed that raised all this out of the floodplain. Nick Goodridge with Dewey Engineering said, adding that the sidewalk on Mailenmore Road was cut short so that it did not go into the floodplain where we would have to fill all the way down to the subdivision, he said. He said that the building and parking lot are out of the floodplain. While the proposal included a full frontage sidewalk, the Mailenmore Road sidewalk ends at a ditch and does not connect to Kings Creek Street, Sanders said, adding that staff suggested that connection and connectivity of some alleys that abut the rear of the site. Goodridge said that the alley connections would be a lot easier as they would not run into the floodplain issues. Commission member Matt Fitterer said that getting pedestrian access to retail was crucial for a well-placed development, as well as for businesses success. The city of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of Columbia 101, an innovative program designed to engage residents with local government and community services. Participants in Columbia 101 will have the unique opportunity to interact closely with city officials and staff getting firsthand knowledge of how municipal services are delivered and learning about avenues of community involvement and advocacy. This consecutive two-day program will be open to all city of Columbia and Murray County residents and offered twice per year with the official kickoff occurring on September 17th and September 18th. Participants can expect to begin each day at City Hall before learning more about all 12 city departments and touring select city facilities, such as the Fire and Rescue and Public Works Departments. Applications for Columbia 101 are available now and will close on Friday, August 9th at 4 p.m. Learn more and apply today by visiting www.columbiatn.com. Murray Alliance is excited to announce that applications for the Leadership Murray class of 2024, 2025 are now open. Leadership Murray offers a unique opportunity to connect with local decision makers, gain insights into various sectors and explore all the great things Murray County has to offer. Whether you live, work, or volunteer here, this program is your chance to contribute to the future of the community. Apply by July 19th and be a part of a network of passionate leaders dedicated to making a difference. Learn more by visiting www.murryalliance.com. For your southern middle Tennessee weather, we will have a mix of clouds and sun with a high of 95 degrees today. Winds will be out of the north and northeast at five to 10 miles per hour. Tonight, we can expect some passing clouds and a low of 68. For your weekend forecasts, we will see a lot of hot weather. Both Saturday and Sunday's highs will be in the high 90s, lows in the low 70s. We'll have mostly clear skies throughout the weekend. Let's take a break. When we come back, we'll cover state and national news that affect you. You're listening to Southern Middle Tennessee today. - As years go by, people may tend to forget just what a funeral is really all about. At Oaks and Nichols, we believe it's first, at all ways, a special remembrance of someone you love. We start by listening to your needs and desires. If you're unsure, we can help gently, professionally. At Oaks and Nichols funeral directors, we haven't lost sight of why we're here to serve Murray County families in the ways they prefer. And why Matt and Susie Sowell believe the way to honor tradition is with especially personal service. - We believe your traditions, your customs, your rites of passage are very important. But we also believe in taking care of your personal wishes as well. - At Oaks and Nichols, we try to do more than just the expected things. So the service you receive honors your heritage and is uniquely yours. And we invite you to experience the difference. - Oaks and Nichols funeral directors, 320 West 7th Street in Columbia. Since 1856, people you can rely on. - This is Debbie Matthews with the National Reluity Group. And if you've been paying attention, you know the housing market has been tough, but rates are beginning the thaw. So if you're thinking about selling, the time to jump in is getting better every day. But if you're thinking about buying and those interest rates are still a little bit too high, a good agent knows how to negotiate interest rate by downs. And I'm a good agent. So call me, Debbie Matthews with National Reluity Group, 615-476-3224. - Family first. My dad used to tell us that all the time. But family first wasn't just something he'd say to us. It was how he lived every day of his life. And it's how I try to live mine too. - It's shelter insurance. Our agents are dedicated to helping provide personalized auto home and life protection that puts your family first. - For auto home, life or business insurance, Sea Shelter Agent Tommy Hyde Jr. at 388-2009. - Are you thinking about a new fence? Maybe you need a pole bar. Then you should give Sands Fence Company a call that's 931-309-1644. Will Sands has built his business based on the principles of honesty, quality and integrity. Sands Fence Company has been in business for over 20 years, providing the community with farm, residential and commercial fencing, as well as pole barns and buildings. Call today for a free estimates and fence company, 931-309-1644, 931-309-1644. - For 40 years, the jewelers bench has worked hard for their customers and provided the highest quality jewelry at the best price. They keep going back. Recent renovations have allowed them to expand their inventory. More high quality jewelry, custom vintage and estate pieces, and professional jewelry and watch repairs. They also buy gold. The jewelers bench, still here, still great service. 808, Trotwood Avenue, Columbia. - This is Trey Hancock with Dixie Equipment, Sales and Rental. We sell ASV and Wacker Nordstrom equipment. We also rent a wide variety of compact equipment in the middle Tennessee area. Come see us, we are located in Columbia, Tennessee at 200 East 16th Street. You can call us at 615-969-01-18, or visit our website at www.dixiediesel.com. We have been in business for over 42 years and we would love to help you turn your project into reality. - Hi, I'm Matt Parralis, Manager of Murray County Equipment. We help you with all your agricultural and construction equipment needs. We carry a full line of new haul and tractors from compacts to high horsepower. We have a full line of gravely morn equipment. We also have new haul and construction equipment, attachments and accessories for your tractors and a complete parts department. We are locally owned and operated. Come see us at 1075, Nord, James Campbell Boulevard, or learn about us on Facebook. Our contact is at 931-490-8183. - This is Bob Kessel with Pat Ryan. It's a beautiful day for digging. The vacuyl operator has the engine running and is moving into position. He's heading for the ground. He's in there. Wait, there's a flag on the play. Let's get out of the field for the call from our official. - A legal procedure on the digging team. - Oh, that penalty could cause a costly accident. - That's right, Bob. He needs to call before he digs. There's underground utility lines that could be hiding just below the surface. Water, sewer, electrical, communication lines, and even natural gas. Avoid a penalty by first calling 8-1-1 to have any underground public utility lines located at marked with flags or paint. It's free, it's easy, and it's the log. For more tips, visit pipesafety.org. This message brought to you by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Gas Association, funded in part by a grant from the Underground Utility Damage Enforcement Board. (whooshing) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM 101.7 and WKRM 103.7. Your hometown source for news and information. I'm Tom Bryce. - And no news from around the state. Memphis Raked as the most dangerous city for drivers in Tennessee, according to a study from Consumer Affairs. Consumer Affairs analyzed data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and compared to cities in Tennessee with over 50,000 citizens. Based on this data, seven cities in Tennessee are above the national average for the overall crash score. The study measured cities in five categories. It measured the number of fatalities due to crashes, number of crashes due to bad driving, number of fatalities due to speeding, number of fatalities due to driving under the influence, and number of fatalities due to positive blood alcohol content. All factors were measured per 100,000 people. Memphis ranked number one in the state with a score of 77.3. Knoxville followed followed by Kingsport, Chattanooga, Smyrna, Nashville, Johnson City, Clarksville, Jackson, and Murfreesboro rounded out the top 10. Hendersonville, Springhill, and Franklin made 11, 12, and 13. According to Consumer Affairs, Memphis not only has the worst drivers in the state, but also in the nation, according to a 2023 study. In number of fatalities due to crashes, Memphis scored a 36.19, the national average is 12.84. A similar trend can be found in the other score factors where Memphis is almost double every average. Memphis scored a 16.51 for the number of crashes due to bad driving, a 6.98 for the number of fatalities due to speeding, a 4.13 for the number of fatalities due to driving under the influence, and a 13.49 for the number of fatalities due to positive blood alcohol content. The national average for the number of crashes due to bad driving is 5.13. The number of fatalities due to speeding is 3.67. The number of fatalities due to driving under the influence, 2.19, and the number of fatalities due to positive alcohol content, 4.79. Tennessee Secretary of State Trey Hargot reminds all registered Tennessee voters to utilize the early voting period and cast the ballot for the August 1st state and federal primary and state and county elections. Early voting begins this Friday, and we want all registered Tennesseeans to utilize our robust early voting period as a convenient way to cast a ballot and make their voices heard, said Secretary Hargot. The 14-day early voting period runs through July 27th. All registered voters can find hours and polling locations, view sample ballots, and much more by visiting govotetn.gov or downloading the Secretary of State's free govotetn app. Early voting is quick and easy, and registered Tennessee voters will likely experience shorter wait times during early voting, said state coordinator of elections Mark Goens. "I encourage all eligible Tennessee voters to take advantage of the convenience of early voting," he said. For more information about early voting and other election information, visit govotetn.gov or contact the Division of Elections by calling toll-free at 1-877-850-4959. Let's take one last break. When we come back, we'll cover the final story of the day. If you're listening to Southern Middle Tennessee, today. (upbeat music) Turner and Osborne Tire Company 1016 South Main Street in Columbia, give a call at 931-388-6822. They've been doing business since 1947 and in their current location since 1964. They provide the best tire and mechanical work at some of the best prices in Middle Tennessee. Hey, they're official Michelin and Goodyear dealers, and they've got all kinds of brands as well. Stop by and see Walker Vining and his professional staff or check him out online at Turner and Osborne.com. That's Turner and Osborne.com. Don't let pain keep you out of the game. Murray Regional Physical Therapies experience team of therapists can help you recover from surgery, injury, or illness by designing a plan that meets your unique needs. We utilize state-of-the-art equipment and proven techniques to help you get back to doing the things you love. Schedule a consultation any of our convenient Southern Middle Tennessee locations by calling 931-380-4014. Murray Regional Health, where clinical excellence meets compassionate care. - Have you ever wondered if your insurance needs can be personalized? This is Hunter Carey. Our team specializes in planning your insurance needs to get you the best possible solution. State Farm is the largest home in auto insurer in the country. I love bringing that to my hometown. Born and raised in Columbia, I'm grateful for our close community ties. We offer help with home, auto, and life insurance for everyone in our community. Our office is located at 909 South Garden Street across from the fire station. We're also in line at HunterCarry.com. That's HunterC-A-R-Y.com. - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and our final story. It's that time of year again to strap on those boots and head down to Murray County Park for the 20th annual Murray County Sheriff's Rodeo. This year's rodeo will take place starting at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with park gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 presale, which can be purchased at the United Farm and Home Co-op, located at 975 Riverview Lane, as well as Columbia Farm Supply, located at 170 Bear Creek Pike. Tickets at the gate are $20 and kids ages 11 and under get in for free. This year's event will also feature a new seating area to provide additional room for attendees. For more information about this year's Murray County Sheriff's Rodeo, call 931-375-6101. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today on Kennedy Broadcasting WKOMWKRM Radio. If you ever miss a part or all of this broadcast, you can listen to it anytime or read the transcript online by visiting frontportradiotn.com. I'll be back on Monday to update you with the latest news. I'm Tom Price, thanks for listening. Be safe and have a great weekend. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)